“Coaches in the WNBA make more money than draft picks”: When $12-million worth Kim Mulkey admitted being “stunned” by women basketball’s reality

LSU coach Kim Mulkey was surprised to learn that WNBA coaches earn more than drafted players. Mulkey made the admission at the Aspen Ideas Festival, in a video which was posted on NBC News' YouTube page on June 27, 2024.

The four-time national-winning coach was one of the guests on the talk show moderated by MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle. The other guest was UConn women's coach and 11-time champion Geno Auriemma.

When asked about her opinion about the pay disparity in the pro ranks, Mulkey admitted she was surprised to learn that WNBA coaches earn more than the draft picks.

"The coaches in the WNBA make more than draft picks. I don't keep up with it close enough. I didn't know that," Mulkey said (28:58).

Mulkey, who guided Baylor to three national titles and followed it up with a championship in LSU in 2023, recalled a previous conversation with an undisclosed individual. She was struck by the realization that players don't earn much money in the WNBA, leading them to go overseas to earn more.

"So the Caitlin Clarks and the Angel Reese's and all of them that are getting the NIL deals in college obviously they're going to carry that with them because they want to make money, but that's a stunning remark somebody made to me is that the coaches in the WNBA make more money than draft picks," Mulkey added (29:16).

Per ESPN, the minimum salary for WNBA players with 0-2 years of service in 2024 is $64,154 and $76,535 for players who have been in the league for more than three years. The supermax deal is worth $241,984 and the hard cap for teams is $1,463,200.

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LSU coach Kim Mulkey earns $3.15 million in first year of new 10-year deal

Four-time national champion and LSU coach Kim Mulkey is in the first year of a new 10-year contract she signed following the Lady Tigers' championship run. This season, she earns $3.15 million, with her salary increasing over the years due to a backloaded deal.

Her average salary of $3.6 million, according to The Sporting News, exceeds that of South Carolina's Dawn Staley, who earns $3.2 million. However, it is slightly lower than what Geno Auriemma earns at UConn, $3.74 million per year, according to the UConn Huskies team website.

Mulkey is off to a good start in the first year of her restructured deal. LSU is No. 5 in the AP women's basketball rankings with a 14-0 record. They aim for their 15th straight win against Albany on Sunday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.